Arsenal will be without Gabriel Magalhaes for several weeks after the defender sustained a muscular injury while on international duty. The Brazilian centre-back was substituted during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday. Arsenal’s medical team are now waiting to conduct additional scans before confirming the full extent of his absence.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mikel Arteta provided an update on his defensive stalwart. The Arsenal manager said: “Yeah Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury and he’s going to be out for weeks. We need to have another scan next Wednesday and we will have the timeline much more clear.” The news represents a significant setback as Arsenal prepare to host Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby.
Early assessments suggested Gabriel could miss at least a month of action. Arsenal will know more after conducting further tests next week. The timing could hardly be worse with a demanding fixture schedule looming over the coming weeks.
Arteta provides Gabriel Magalhaes injury update
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Gabriel Magalhaes picked up the problem during Brazil’s win over Senegal. He was unable to complete the match and immediately returned to London for assessment. Initial scans indicated a muscular issue that would keep him sidelined, but Arsenal want more detailed examinations before confirming how long he will be unavailable.
The 27-year-old has been instrumental in Arsenal’s defensive stability this season. His partnership with William Saliba has formed the backbone of the Gunners’ backline. Losing him for an extended period forces Arteta to rethink his defensive setup during a critical phase of the campaign.
Arsenal will conduct another scan on Wednesday. That assessment should provide clarity on Gabriel’s recovery timeline. Until then, Arteta must prepare contingency plans for multiple matches without his first-choice centre-back.
Calafiori also a doubt after Italy withdrawal
Riccardo Calafiori presents another fitness concern for Arteta. The Italian left-back withdrew from his national team’s recent fixtures due to a hip complaint. He missed Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova and was also unavailable for their 4-1 loss to Norway. Italy opted not to risk him in the second match given they had already lost their chance of finishing top of the group.
Arteta addressed Calafiori’s condition on Friday, saying: “Yeah he wasn’t available, he’s been carrying a few things and we had to bring him back. He hasn’t trained yet, we have a session tomorrow so we will see.” The 23-year-old’s participation against Tottenham depends on how he responds in Saturday’s training session.
Calafiori has operated primarily at left-back this season but possesses the ability to play centrally. That versatility makes him a potential option to cover for Gabriel’s absence. However, his own fitness issues mean Arsenal cannot rely on him as a guaranteed solution.
Statistics reveal Gabriel Magalhaes crucial role at Arsenal
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The numbers illustrate just how important Gabriel Magalhaes is to Arsenal’s success. Since joining in September 2020, the Gunners have contested 171 Premier League matches with him available. They secured victory in 110 of those games, drew 27 and suffered 34 defeats. That translates to a win rate of 64.3 per cent.
Arsenal’s record without Gabriel tells a different story. Across 30 Premier League fixtures in his absence, they managed just 12 wins alongside 10 draws and eight losses. Their win percentage plummets to 40 per cent when Gabriel is unavailable. The stark contrast demonstrates his influence on Arsenal’s defensive organisation and overall results.
Arteta has several candidates to fill the void. Cristhian Mosquera deputised for Saliba earlier this campaign when the French defender sustained an ankle problem. Both Calafiori and Piero Hincapie can operate at centre-back if required. Yet none offer the same physical presence and experience that Gabriel Magalhaes brings to Arsenal’s defence.
Other returns possible for north London derby
Arteta hinted that some injured players might be available for selection against Tottenham. He stopped short of naming specific individuals but expressed optimism about their recovery progress. He continued: “We have put in a lot of energy to bring them back as quick as possible. Tomorrow we will have more clarity. I am hopeful that we will take another step tomorrow.”
Saturday’s training session will prove decisive. Arteta will evaluate his squad one final time before making selection decisions for the derby. Any positive injury news would help offset the disappointment of losing Gabriel Magalhaes for the foreseeable future.
The north London derby carries enormous significance for both clubs. Arsenal enter the match in strong form but must now cope without their defensive leader. Arteta faces a challenging selection dilemma as he attempts to maintain defensive solidity while dealing with multiple fitness concerns. The coming days will determine which players are fit enough to feature in one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures.